Celebrities turn out in force at O2 Arena as LA Lakers take on Minnesota Timberwolves

What is it about the Lakers? When they play at home Jack Nicholson, David
Beckham and Leonardo Di Caprio - to name just three season ticket holders -
flock courtside while the effect was identical at the O2 on Monday night
when they played their early season warm-up against the Minnesota
Timberwolves.

On the bench: Arsenal players watched the LA Lakers at the O2 ArenaPhoto: REUTERS

There were no league points at stake, the Lakers barely got out of second gear and some players such as Kobe Bryant were making a gentle comeback following surgery, yet despite that the 19,000 tickets were sold out in just over four hours this summer and the VIP guests dropping in would be the envy of any Reality TV show.

Down at courtside was a veritable parade of Premier League footballers watching some of the few athletes on the planet who make them seem like paupers. Kobe Bryant's basic salary is just a tad under $25m, regardless of bonuses and endorsements.

Darren Bent - a Lakers fanatic who flew to LA in June to support his team in the NBA finals - was lapping it up alongside Jermain Defoe, Michael Essien, Cesc Fabregas, Jermaine Jenas, Saloman Kalou, Alexandre Pato, Carlos Tévez, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Bobby Zamora.

Meanwhile, Olympic long-jump champion Philips Idowu, another Lakers fan of long standing, was also in attendance along with Great Britain's other reigning Olympic athletics champion, 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu.

Saracens and England second row Steve Borthwick also looked in while, up in the Sky Bar, Danny Cipriani was holding court as he counts down the days before heading to Australia to start his new career with Super 15 side Melbourne Rebels.